UH-Hilo Ocean Day at Bayfront Park Saturday

It will be an ocean-fest and more on Saturday as the University of Hawaii at Hilo holds its 6th annual Ocean Day Hawaii Malama Kanaloa Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ocean Day at the Hilo Bayfront Beach Park focuses on increasing awareness of ocean and coastal issues such as conservation, sustainable use of resources and ocean safety through fun and interactive displays, activities and booths.

“The mission is to raise public awareness of the impact people have on the ocean environment, promote conservation of precious ocean and coastal resources in a culturally sensitive way, and communicate the outcomes of current ocean and coastal research, management and education efforts in Hawai‘i,” UH-Hilo officials said.

The Bayfront area will be the venue for festivities which will include informational booths, fishing games, “marine critter” touch tanks and marine-life block printing.

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There will also be mask and puppet making, makahiki games, face painting, poi pounding, seed planting and more, officials said.

The event is hosted by the UH-Hilo Pacific Island Programs for Exploring Science in partnership with the County of Hawai`i, EPSCoR Hawai`i IMUA III, Hawai`i Pacific Island Campus Compact, UH-Hilo Campus & Community Service Program, UH-Hilo Student Activities Council, and the University of Hawai’i Sea Grant program.